The Knicks’ offense has stagnated the last eight games, bogged down by too much isolation and too many jumpers. In order to alleviate that problem, coach Mike Woodson put J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert through a pick-and-roll crash course Tuesday in practice.
“Our offense has struggled somewhat in terms of how we were playing early in the year,’’ Woodson said. “We scored enough [Sunday against the Hawks]. … But I’ve got to get [Steve] Novak more involved. J.R. had a nice game rebounding from the Philly game, but I’ve got to get Novak some more touches somehow.’’
If his two athletic guards can get to the rim, it will both take the pick-and-roll burden off Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni, and create shots for Novak.
“Those two guys have the capabilities of being pretty good pick-and-roll players, and that helps us. It can’t just be Raymond and Pablo,’’ Woodson said. “They’ve got to know their options. They’ve got to know when to drive and when to shoot it, when to be playmakers for their teammates.
“They both have that ability to do that, and I’m going to try to put them in more situations. We’ve seen a little bit of it with J.R. [Shumpert] is just getting back, and I’ve got to put him in a comfort zone that he feels good about being a pick-and-roll player, because that’s going to help us down the road.’’
Shumpert said he needs to penetrate more, but said that will happen as he works his way back in his return from a torn ACL in his left knee. It should only help Novak, scoreless in three of the last four.
“Obviously I’m not a guy who brings the ball up and gets looks on my own, so there are more sets that that need to be run for me, as opposed to throw it to [Carmelo Anthony] and that boy can go to work,” Novak said. “But I’m just going to continue to do what I do and stay confident. We’ll see what [Woodson] implements in the offense and I think it’s good.’’
* Woodson said Tyson Chandler (neck) is probable for tonight’s game against the Magic at the Garden, but Rasheed Wallace (left foot) didn’t practice with his return date unclear.
“I don’t know if he and [Marcus] Camby will be back before the All-Star break. If not, we can handle our business up until All-Star break, and use that as time to rest and give them a little more time, get healthy,’’ Woodson said. “When they come back, I want them to be healthy for the stretch run.’’
Jason Kidd (back) is also probable.
Woodson said he will listen to Kidd’s input on when the aging guard needs time off, and said they will sprinkle in more zone defense as the season goes on.